Urban Prep

“The high school drop out rate for Black males is more than 50 percent.” These were the words spoken by Tim King, co-founder and CEO of Urban Prep Academies in Chicago. Although this statistic is heartbreaking, King delivered this message to an auditorium full of guests who gathered at Urban Prep Englewood to celebrate.

Despite the staggering facts of Black males dropping out of high school, 100 percent of the seniors at two Urban Prep Academy campuses were accepted into college.

“Fact: Urban Prep seniors, these guys, have amassed more than $6 million in grants and scholarships,” said Tim King.

Nikki and The City pictured with founder of Urban Prep, Tim King and some students holding up one finger (for No. 1), which signifies 100 percent acceptance into college.

This fall seniors will attend a variety of schools across the nation, including an Ivy League university and Morehouse College – one of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

The Tie Ceremony consisted of seniors receiving their red and gold tie, which signifies college acceptance, and a speech from the mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel.

“What this 100 percent proves is that it need not be the exception, but the expectation,” said Mayor Emanuel.

As a writer who’s constantly reporting on the violence that plagues our city, it’s extremely refreshing to witness something great occurring in an area least expected, to the young men we all at one point were guilty of doubting. As Urban Prep students state “We believe”, in their creed, their success is causing others to believe as well.